Travis supports Northern Edge 2019

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

The joint training exercise was one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises in 2019 designed to prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Indo-Pacific. It sought to sharpen participants’ tactical combat skills, improve command, control and communication relationships and develop interoperable plans and programs across the joint force.

Approximately 10,000 U.S. service members participated in the exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces.

“Over 50 aircrew and maintenance personnel from Travis participated in the exercise,” said Capt. David Miller, 9th Air Refueling Squadron chief executive officer.

Participants served as part of a joint task force, which helped enhance multi-service integration and exercise a wide range of joint capabilities. During the exercise, Travis Airmen were responsible for providing refueling and maintenance support to exercise participants.

“Travis air crews supported all Air Force and Navy fighter aircraft offloading 10 million pounds of fuel to 240 receivers, while Travis maintainers generated 59 aircraft with zero delays,” said Miller.

The contributions of Travis Airmen helped ensure the success of Northern Edge 2019, he added.

“We enabled the fighters and other supporting assets to conduct their mission over the course of the (12 day) exercise,” said Miller. “Alaska offered a perfect environment for my crew and supporting maintenance personnel from Travis, to execute our training in a safe, controlled manner.”

Ensuring the maintenance needs for the exercise were met was no small feat, said Capt. Michael Corson, 9th ARS mission generation flight commander.

“During the exercise, I led 110 maintenance and operations personnel that performed 56 air refueling missions,” he said. “These missions utilized the KC-10 to support Navy, Marine, Army, and Air Force aircraft allowing the exercise to go nonstop.”

Units from Air Mobility Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command, U.S. 3rd Fleet, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and U.S. Naval Reserve took part in the exercise.